BACKGROUND:The umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells possess multipotent differentiation capacity, but less research focus on its differentiation into fibroblasts.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the capacity of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells differentiating into fibroblasts.
METHODS:Using adherent method, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were isolated, and flow cytometric analysis of the surface antigen was performed. Passage 3 cells were selected for osteogenic and
adipogenic differentiation, and cells differentiated into fibroblasts under the induction of basic fibroblast growth factor. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Adherent stem cells were stably isolated from the umbilical cord. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells lowly expressed CD31, CD45, CD40, HLA-DR, but strongly expressed CD29, CD90, CD44, CD105. Oil red O staining showed red droplets were ful of the cytoplasm after adipogenic induction;alizarin red staining showed red calcium nodules after osteogenic induction. After induced by basic fibroblast growth factor, the type I col agen expression was significantly higher than that in the control group. These findings indicate that the adherent human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells are reliably isolated with high purity;basic fibroblast growth factor can induce differentiation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells into fibroblasts.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has demonstrated that dermal tissue has mesenchymal stem cells, which have a possibility of autologous transplantation. If the mesenchymal stem cells derived from the skin differentiate into lymphocytes under a certain condition, the immune system disease can be solved generally.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possibility of differentiation of human skin-derived mesenchymal stem cells into lymphocytes. METHODS: Surface marker expression was detected in the 14th passage human skin-derived mesenchymal stem cells using flow cytometry. Transdifferentiation medium of human skin-derived mesenchymal stem cells consisted of human lymphocyte supernatant and fresh human skin-derived mesenchymal stem cells based on the ratio of 7:3. Inverted microscope was employed to observe morphological changes, and flow cytometry was used to detect surface marker expression in the lymphocytes at 1-8 days after induction. Self-marker expression of human skin-derived mesenchymal stem cells was then detected at 3,6, and 9 days after induction.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Human skin-derived mesenchymal stem cells stably expressed self-specific marker CD73, Vimentin and so on, but did not express specific markers of hematopoietic system, I.e., CD34, CD45 and so on, lowly expressed HLA-I, but did not express HLA-DR at all. At 3 days after induction, the cell volume significantly increased, cell proliferation rate was significantly lower than before induction, and a lot of cystic-like particles with strong refraction were observed in or between cells. The CD45 lymphocyte expression was not significantly changed, but CD3, CD19, CD16, CD4, and CD8 expression rates of human skin-derived mesenchymal stem cells were linearly increased at 1-4 days after induction and stabilized at 5-8 days after induction. In addition, CD37, CD34, Vimentin, and HLA-DR expressions were not changed at 3, 6, and 9 days after induction, but HLA-I expression rate was gradually increased with the prolongation time of induction. This suggested that human skin-derived mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into lymphocyte and potentially participate in repairing immune system injury.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological status of visceral leishmaniasis in Hamangou coal mine area of Korla City of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.Methods Based on a hint of possible existence of patients, a retrospective survey was carried out house by house to find cases with suspected signs/symptoms of the disease.Meanwhile, a survey on current status was conducted, including physical examination(liver and spleen palpation) to those less than 15 years-old, leishmanin skin test and rk39 immunochromatographic strip test for part of the residents.Bone marrow smears were examined for the cases with clinical signs/symptoms and positive rk39 strip test.Sandflies were collected using routine methods in and around the area, identified, and dissected to find infection of promastigotes.Results Leishmanin skin test was performed in 185 people with a positive rate of 21.1%(39/185), 39 out of 140 local residents who have lived there for more than 6 years showed positive(27.9%) , while all residents who have lived less than 6 years and children under 5 years old were negative.Of the 81 children under 15 years old with a negative skin test, one showed positive for rk39 strip test, and leishmania body was found in the bone marrow smear of this case, so confirmed as visceral leishmaniasis.12 sandfies were identified as Phlebotomus alexandri, and natural infection with promastigotes was found in one sandly.Conclusion The investigation confirms that visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in the Hamangou coal mine area.

BACKGROUND: The proliferation of peripheral blood stem cells among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) invitro remains unclear. There is no optimal marker for tracing PBMCs transplanted in vivo.OBJECTIVE: To observe the degree of PBMC proliferation in stem cell medium by EdU labeling and to explore thefeasibility of EdU-labeled peripheral blood stem cells.METHODS: New Zealand rabbit PBMCs were isolated and cultured for 1 to 5 days in stem cell medium supplementedwith EdU. The cells were observed and counted at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days in culture. The cells were harvested at eachtime point and stained with EdU fluorescent reagents. Then, confocal microscopy and flow cytometry were used to detectEdU-labeled cells.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Freshly isolated rabbit PBMCs were rounded and showed clear outline. After 1 dayculture, most of the cells were suspended in the medium, spherical or round. There were also a few cell clusters andadherent cells scattered in a triangle or polygon shape; after 2 days culture, more cell debris were observed, and mostcells were round; when cultured for 3-5 days, increased cell debris, smaller cell mass and decreased cell densitysignificantly were observed. (2) With the prolongation of culture time, the cell count decreased gradually. (3) Whencultured for 1 day, EdU labeled cells in red were scattered. The number of cells marked with EdU red label increasedsignificantly at day 2 and remained unchanged after 3 days of culture. At 5 days of culture, the number of red cellsmarkedly decreased; the highest positive rate of EdU-labeled cells was (2.38±0.10)% at 2 days after culture. To conclude,these results showed that the proportion of proliferating cells in rabbit PBMCs was very low. EdU is capable of labelingproliferative cells among PBMCs.

Objective To explore the feasibility of in vitro biological soft tissue imaging by using synchrotron radiation phase contrast CT.Methods Three samples of resected human cardia,two samples of resected human esophageal carcinoma and esophagus,as well as two samples of middle cerebral artery tissue extracted from corpses were fixed and airdried at room temperature for synchrotron radiation phase contrast CT imaging.The images of soft tissue structures were observed and compared with pathological findings.Results The images of synchrotron radiation phase contrast CT showed three-layer structure of cardia and esophagus,mucous,submucosa and muscular layer.The surface of mucous layer was smooth.The images of esophageal carcinoma showed cancerous tissue infiltrating esophageal wall.The wall and lumen of cerebral arteries could be also clearly displayed.Conclusion Synchrotron radiation phase contrast CT imaging can clearly display fine structures of in vitro biological soft tissue.

Loganin(LOG),a bioactive compound derived from Cornus officinalis Siebold & Zucc,has been understudied in the context of osteoarthritis(OA)treatment.In this study,we induced an inflammatory response in chondrocytes using lipopolysaccharide(LPS)and subsequently treated these cells with LOG.We employed fluorescence analysis to quantify reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels and measured the expression of NLRP3 and nuclear factor erythropoietin-2-related factor 2(NRF2)using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR),Western blotting,and immunofluorescence(IF)techniques.Additionally,we developed an OA mouse model by performing medial meniscus destabilization(DMM)surgery and monitored disease progression through micro-com-puted tomography(micro-CT),hematoxylin and eosin(H&E)staining,safranin O and fast green(S&F)staining,and immunohisto-chemical(IHC)analysis.Our results indicate that LOG significantly reduced LPS-induced ROS levels in chondrocytes,inhibited the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome,and enhanced NRF2/heme oxygenase 1(HO-1)signaling.In vivo,LOG treatment mitigated cartilage degradation and osteophyte formation triggered by DMM surgery,decreased NLRP3 expression,and increased NRF2 expres-sion.These findings suggest that LOG has a protective effect against OA,potentially delaying disease progression by inhibiting the ROS-NLRP3-IL-1β axis and activating the NRF2/HO-1 pathway.

Objective: To investigate the safety and feasibility of proximal partial gastrectomy with Cheng's Giraffe esophagogastric reconstruction for the treatment of early Siewert II adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG). Methods: Indication of Cheng's Giraffe esophagogastric reconstruction: (1) Siewert II AEG or Siewert III AEG with diameter < 4 cm; (2) preoperative staging as cT1-2N0M0. A descriptive case series study was carried out. Clinical data of 34 patients with Siewert II AEG undergoing proximal partial gastrectomy and Cheng's Giraffe esophagogastric reconstruction at Department of Abdominal Surgery of Zhejiang Cancer Hospital and Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from February to July 2018 were retrospectively collected and analyzed, including 14 cases in IA stage, 11 cases in IIA stage and 8 cases in IIB stage. Brief procedure of Cheng's Giraffe esophagogastric reconstruction was as follows: Firstly, 12 cm long tubular stomach was formed by longitudinal incision 4 cm away from the great curvature of the stomach. Secondly, the gastric fundus and His angle were formed. Finally, the distance from His angle to esophagal-tubular gastric anastomosis should be more than 5 cm. The reflux disease questionare (RDQ) scores, radionuclide gastric emptying scintigraphy, and 24-hour multichannel intraluminal (MII)-pH monitoring technology were used to evaluate postoperative gastric emptying and gastroesophageal reflux. Result: All 34 patients successfully completed proximal partial gastrectomy with Cheng's Giraffe esophagogastric reconstruction, including 13 cases by open surgery and 21 cases by laparoscopic surgery. The operation time was (144.6±39.8) minutes, the blood loss during operation was (35.4±17.2) ml. No laparoscopic case was converted to open surgery and no postoperative complication was observed. The postoperative hospital stay was (8.4±2.5) days. The postoperative RDQ score was 4.4±3.1 one month after operation, and 3.3±2.5 six months after operation. Gastric-half emptying time was (67.0±21.5) minutes, and the residual ratio was (52.2±7.7)% in 1 hour, (36.4±3.1)% in 2 hours and (28.8±3.6)% in 3 hours at postoperative 1-month. The 24-hour MII-pH monitoring at postoperative 2-month revealed the frequency of acid reflux was (12.6±7.9) times, frequency of non-acid reflux was (19.6±9.7) times, DeMeester score was 5.8±2.9. Conclusion Cheng's Giraffe esophagogastric reconstruction is safe and feasible in the treatment of Siewert type II AEG, and has good dynamic and anti-reflux effects.