Objective To investigate whether mesenchymal stem cells can promote the recovery of acute renal tubular damage induced by mercuric chloride and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods Acute renal failure rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of mercuric chloride.SD rats were randomly divided into three groups which were MSCs injection group, saline infusion group and normal control group.Seven days later,the changes of rat weight,survival,renal function and pathology were observed;PCNA,ED-1 and GFP were detected by immunohistochemistry; The expression of cytokines in kidney and the distribution of GFP plasmid-transfected MSCs in kidney were examined by RT-PCR.Results MSCs infusion ameliorated the decline of rat weight,survival, renal function,and pathological changes.PCNA and ED-1 positive cells in MSCs group were fewer than those in saline group.Expression of growth factors EGF,PDGF,HGF were obviously up- regulated and pre-inflammatory cytokines TNF-?was significantly reduced in MSCs-treated kidneys. GFP-labelled MSCs occurred occasionally in renal interstitium of MSCs-treated rats,but not in renal tubules.Conclusions Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can promote the recovery of acute renal tubular epithelial cells damage caused by mercuric chloride.The mechanism may partly depend on regulating the excretion of cytokines in renal microenvironment rather than completely depend on their differentiation to tubular cells.

OBJECTIVETo develop a novel scaffolding method for the copolymers poly lactide-co-glycolide acid (PLGA) to construct a three-dimensional (3-D) scaffold and explore its biocompatibility through culturing Schwann cells (SCs) on it.

METHODSThe 3-D scaffolds were made by means of melt spinning, extension and weaving. The queueing discipline of the micro-channels were observed under a scanning electronic microscope (SEM).The sizes of the micropores and the factors of porosity were also measured. Sciatic nerves were harvested from 3-day-old Sprague Dawley (SD) rats for culture of SCs. SCs were separated, purified, and then implanted on PLGA scaffolds, gelatin sponge and poly-L-lysine (PLL)-coated tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) were used as biomaterial and cell-supportive controls, respectively. The effect of PLGA on the adherence, proliferation and apoptosis of SCs were examined in vitro in comparison with gelatin sponge and TCPS.

RESULTSThe micro-channels arrayed in parallel manners, and the pore sizes of the channels were uniform. No significant difference was found in the activity of Schwann cells cultured on PLGA and those on TCPS (P larger than 0.05), and the DNA of PLGA scaffolds was not damaged.

CONCLUSIONThe 3-D scaffolds developed in this study have excellent structure and biocompatibility, which may be taken as a novel scaffold candidate for nerve-tissue engineering.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Lactic Acid ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Polyglycolic Acid ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Schwann Cells ; cytology ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds

BACKGROUNDThe radial artery is currently regarded as a useful approach for coronary intervention procedures. Adequate anatomical information of the radial artery should be helpful in performing transradial coronary procedures. Few data about the Chinese population have been obtained in this field. Therefore, we tried to evaluate the incidence and clinical significance of anomalous patterns, and their influence on the intervention procedure.

METHODSIn an estimated sample of 3000 cases, radial artery and subclavical artery angiography were performed after insertion of the sheath and coronary angiography (CA). The evaluable data including branch anomaly, tortuosity of the radial artery and procedural characteristics were analyzed. The procedure success was defined as CA or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) completed with the initial radial artery approach without changing to other routes.

RESULTSIn this study, 1897 cases of CA was undertaken and 1103 cases of CA combined with PCI were performed. The success rate of transradial intervention (TRI) was 96.6% (2899/3000). The approach in 44 cases was changed to the contralateral radial artery and 57 cases were changed to the brachial artery or femoral artery due to failure with the initial radial artery approach. The angiography of the upper limb artery was performed in all cases. Anatomic variations of upper limb arteries were noted in 610 patients (20.3%), which included tortuous configurations of the radial artery (5.0%), hypoplasias (2.2%), radioulnar loop (1.1%), abnormal origin of the radial artery (7.7%), stenosis of radial artery (1.4%), a tortuous configuration of the brachial artery (0.9%), a tortuous configurations of the subclavian artery (1.9%), lusoria subclavian artery (0.1%), and subclavian artery occlusion (0.03%). The procedural success rate in the normal population was higher than in the variation group (97.6% vs 93.0%, P < 0.001). In addition, other procedural outcomes and incidence of complications except radial artery occlusion were also significantly superior to variation group.

CONCLUSIONSAnatomic variations of the radial artery were common, making up an important limitation in the trans-radial approach. Selection of appropriate instruments and understanding some tips and tricks were helpful to overcome the obstacles and effectively reduce the learning curve.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Coronary Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radial Artery ; anatomy & histology ; Treatment Outcome

Research progress ofpolysorbate 80 was summarized,including standards,chemical composition and impurity test.Assay methods of polysorbate 80 in preparations were also summarized.In addition,characteristics of the current technologies were discussed.Compositions of polysorbate 80 could be detected directly by spectrophotometry,SEC-ELSD or LC-MS methods.In addition,they could be analyzed indirectly by determing the hydrolysates with HPLC-UV or GC methods.In recent years,remarkable progress has been achieved in chemical composition determination and impurity test ofpolysorbate 80.But assay method of the excipient in related drugs need further study,due to large difference between purities ofpolysorbate 80 raw materials.

Objective To explore the feasibility of traveling abroad for a short period, and analyze the effect on peritoneal dialysis patients' health status. Methods A four-day long travel to Jeju island was organized. Eleven peritoneal dialysis patients whose health status was stable participated in this activity. Their dialysis regimen, total fluid removal, clinical symptoms, quality of life and rehabilitation status were evaluated before and after the travel. Results Three patients had some clinical symptoms, such us edema and nausea before travel, and all of them eased or disappeared after travel. Their dialysis doses and total fluid removal unchanged between pre-and post-travel, hut volume status improved and hypertension was better controlled (P< 0. 05). Quality of life was stable after the travel (P > 0. 05), and rehabilitation status improved. Conclusions The stable dialyzed peritoneal dialysis patients can endure short period travel abroad. And their self management capacity improved after travel. Travd outside is an effective way to promote peritoneal dialysis patients rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of using two- and three-dimensional (2D/3D) image registration for establishing a testing system of 3D kinematics of the spine in vivo.

METHODSCT data of the adult human lumbar spine were collected and the two orthogonal images of the same specimen were captured using an X-ray fluoroscope at two different positions. The 3D computer models of L3 and L4 vertebrae were reconstructed. A virtual fluoroscope was then created with solid modeling software to reproduce the relative positions of the orthogonal images. Two virtual cameras in the software were used to represent the X-ray sources. The 3D computer models of the L3 and L4 vertebrae were then introduced into the virtual fluoroscope respectively and projected onto the orthogonal images by the two virtual cameras. By matching the projections of the 3D model to the orthogonal images of L3 and L4 vertebrae, the 3D positions of L3 and L4 were obtained. After calculation, the relative displacement and angle of L3 were determined.

RESULTSAfter 2D/3D image registration, the relative displacement and angle were calculated. Compared with position I, the positional changes of L3 were represented with an extension of 5.86 degrees, left bending of 1.85 degrees and right rotation of 2.96 degrees.

CONCLUSION2D/3D image registration allows the simulation of 3D kinematics of the spine in vivo, but the efficiency and accuracy of this technique need further evaluation.

Adult ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Feasibility Studies ; Fluoroscopy ; methods ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Range of Motion, Articular ; physiology ; Reproducibility of Results ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the epidemiological characteristics of Norwalk-like virus (NLVs) infection in children with diarrhea and to study the genotype and predominant cluster at a hospital in Guangzhou city.

METHODSFecal specimens from 358 children with acute gastroenteritis from October 2003 to January 2004 and information about the cases were collected. NLVs was detected from the specimens by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the PCR products were purified and sequenced.

RESULTSForty-two positive specimens were detected from the 358 fecal specimen with a positive rate of 11.73% (42/358). Of these, 40 specimens were obtained from infants younger than 3 years of age. The youngest infant infected with NLVs in this study was only 25 days. The positive rate in November (17.27%) was the highest. Eleven positive PCR products were selected and sequenced. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that 11 strains all belong to genogroup II (G II), and of these, 5 strains belonged to G II-3 cluster, with another 5 strains belonged to G II-4 cluster. However, one strain with its cluster could not be determined.

CONCLUSIONNLVs served as one of the important pathogens causing sporadic acute gastroenteritis among children at a hospital in Guangzhou. The predominant strains were identified as G II-3 and G II-4 cluster.

Age Distribution ; Caliciviridae Infections ; complications ; epidemiology ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Diarrhea ; complications ; epidemiology ; Feces ; virology ; Female ; Hospitals ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Norovirus ; classification ; genetics ; physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Seasons ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; Sex Distribution

OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiological features of human calicivirus( HuCV) infection in children with diarrhea in a hospital in Guangzhou.

METHODSStool specimens were collected from children with viral diarrhea diagnosed between October, 2003 and January, 2004 and between October, 2004 and January, 2005. HuCV was detected by means of RT-PCR and sequence analysis of the PCR products.

RESULTSEighty specimens positive for Norwalk-like viruses (NLVs) were identified from 648 stool specimens, with a positivity rate of 12.35%, and sapporo-like viruses (SLVs) were identified in 2 specimens (0.31%). The monthly NLV positivity rate was 11.74% (Oct.), 14.16% (Nov.), 9. 09% (Dec.) and 13.95% (Jan.), respectively, showing no significant variation in these months. NLVs mainly infected children below 2 years old. Twenty-two strains of NLVs were sequenced and analyzed, and 21 of them were identified as GII and the genotype of 1 strain could not be determined. The prevalent viral population were GII-3 and GII-4 in 2003 and was GII-4 in 2004, and both of the SLVs belong to GI-1.

CONCLUSIONNLVs is one of the important pathogens causing sporadic acute gastroenteritis in children admitted in the hospital in Guangzhou, and the prevalent strains are GII-3 and GII-4 , but different prevalent strains are possible in different periods.

Caliciviridae ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Caliciviridae Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Diarrhea ; epidemiology ; virology ; Diarrhea, Infantile ; epidemiology ; virology ; Feces ; virology ; Female ; Genotype ; Hospitals ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Molecular Epidemiology ; methods ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Norwalk virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Prevalence ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Seasons ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

BACKGROUNDThe radial artery is currently regarded as a useful vascular access site for coronary procedures. This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility and safety of the percutaneous radial artery approach for angioplasty in the elderly.

METHODSTwo thousand and fifty-eight consecutive patients (762 elderly, age = 65 years; and 1296 non-elderly, age < 65 years, respectively) who underwent transradial coronary angioplasty were recruited in this study. Study endpoints included procedure success rate, procedure time, vascular complications at access site, and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events during hospitalization.

RESULTSElderly patients were more likely to present with unstable angina and renal dysfunction. The incidence of radial and brachiocephalic trunk anatomical tortuosity was higher in elderly patients than that in non-elderly patients (11.5% vs 3.7%; 8.9% vs 2.6%, P < 0.01, respectively). However, procedural success rate (94.7% vs 95.6%) and total mean procedure time ((67.9 +/- 27.3) minutes vs (58.6 +/- 38.5) minutes) for transradial coronary angioplasty were not significantly different between the two groups. Clinical course during the hospitalization was slightly worse in the elderly patients because of more adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events after the procedure. However, the incidence of vascular complications was not significantly different between the elderly and non-elderly patients.

CONCLUSIONAlthough the incidence of radial and brachiocephalic trunk anatomical tortuosity is higher in elderly patients, transradial coronary intervention can be performed with similar safety and procedural success in these patients as compared with non-elderly patients.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; methods ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radial Artery ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDNerve growth factor (NGF) is well-known for its important role in the development and maintenance of the nervous system. Along with its neurotrophic role, NGF has been detected in the testis of mouse, rat and human, suggesting an additional non-neurotrophic effect in the male reproductive system. The expression of β-NGF in the undescended testes (cryptorchidism) has not been detected at present. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of β-nerve growth factor mRNA and protein in experimental cryptorchidism.

METHODSA unilateral mechanical cryptorchidism model in the Sprague-Dawley rat was established and the expression of β-NGF with histologic changes in experimental cryptorchidism were investigated using one step quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization histochemistry, immunofluorescence and hematoxylin-eosin staining.

RESULTSThe expression of β-NGF mRNA and protein were both significantly decreased in the development of unmarred testis and cryptorchidism-induced testis, and the decrease of β-NGF in cryptorchidism-induced testis was far greater than that in uninjured testis.

CONCLUSIONFrom this investigation, we confirmed a lower expression of β-NGF in undescended testes than in the development of testis.

Animals ; Cryptorchidism ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley