Neck shoulder pain or lumbocrural pain caused by intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) could seriously affect the qualities life of patients. Current treatments mainly focus on alleviating pain and the symptoms of nerve compression, which could not radically stop the process of intervertebral disc degeneration, but conversely lead to high recurrence rate. In recent years, scholars have turned to study the biological treatment for repair and rebuild the intervertebral disc by biological molecular therapy, gene therapy, cell therapy and tissue engineering to solve the problem of intervertebral disc degeneration, while most of the above methods are still in animal experiments or in vitro experiments and the clinical application is still a long way to go.
Animals ; Biological Therapy ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; metabolism ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy

Objective To isolate, culture and identify human neural stem cells from 7-week to 13-week embryonic brains and to study different suitable culture conditions.Methods By using serum-free cell culture and single cell clone test,the neural stem cells were isolated and cultured from 7-week human embryonic forebrains and 13-week human embryonic cerebral cortex in different conditions and immunofluorescence tests were used to identify the cells. Results The human neural stem cells having the abilities of self-renewal and multipotency were successfully isolated and cultured from different embryonic brains. In 7-week brain, the cells could form clones in different ways except in high concentration suspension culture.In 13-week brain, the cells could form clones only in middle concentration suspension culture and high concentration adhere-wall culture. In coated petri dish, the cells couldn't form clones.Conclusions There are neural stem cells in human embryonic brains. With gestational age increasing, the neural stem cells become more and more difficult to be isolated. High concentration adhere-wall culture can be used in embryonic brains with different gestation age.

Objective To observe the lung protective effect of Tongfu Xiefei method (TFXF) in rats with sepsis, and to discuss its possible mechanism.Methods Forty-two Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into blank control group (n = 6), model group (n = 18) and TFXF group (n = 18). Sepsis model was reproduced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in rats of model group and TFXF group. After the reproduction of sepsis model, rats in TFXF group received Tongfu Xiefei granules 0.01 mL/g by gavge, while those in model group were given equal dose of normal saline by the same way. The rats in blank control group received no treatment. At 3, 6, 12 hours after CLP, abdominal aorta blood was collected for blood gas analysis and inferior vena cava blood was collected for determination of the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for measurement of concentrations of total protein (TP), total phospholipid (TPL), and desaturated phosphatidyl choline (DSPC). The ratio of wet/dry lung weight ratio (W/D) was measured, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in lung tissues were determined. The pathologic changes in their lungs were observed with light microscopy.Results Compared with those in blank control group, the levels of pH value, arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2), HCO3-, base excess (BE) were lowered, and partial pressure of carbon dioxide of arterial blood (PaCO2) was increased in model group. The serum concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 were gradually increased after the reproduction of sepsis model. Compared with those in blank control group, the levels of TP, TPL, and DSPC/TPL in model group were decreased, while the levels of W/D, MDA and MPO were increased. Compared with those in model group, pH value was elevated in TFXF group at 3 hours (7.27±0.04 vs. 7.18±0.07,P < 0.05). PaO2 (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) was improved at 3, 6, 12 hours (3 hours: 128.00±16.05 vs. 106.78±10.73, 6 hours: 98.46±15.97 vs. 72.80±16.33, 12 hours: 90.70±9.31 vs. 74.28±12.19, allP < 0.05). The serum concentrations of TNF-α (ng/L) in TFXF group were significantly lower than those in model group at 12 hours (508.20±94.08 vs. 756.60±138.77,P < 0.05), and the serum concentrations of IL-6 (ng/L) in TFXF group were significantly lower than those in model group at 6 hours and 12 hours (6 hours: 687.80±35.00 vs. 849.40±148.28, 12 hours: 728.80±214.41 vs. 917.00±245.96, bothP < 0.05). Compared with those of model group, the levels of TP (g/L) in BALF in TFXF group were significantly decreased at 12 hours (1.01±0.23 vs. 1.60±0.47,P < 0.05), and the levels of TPL (mg/L) in TFXF group were significantly increased at 12 hours (86.40±11.33 vs. 62.40±16.33,P < 0.05). The levels of DSPC/TPL in TFXF group were significantly higher than those in model group at 6 hours and 12 hours (6 hours: 0.58±0.13 vs. 0.38±0.10, 12 hours: 0.45±0.13 vs. 0.24±0.07, bothP < 0.05). The levels of W/D in TFXF group were significantly higher than those in model group at 3 hours (3.84±0.25 vs. 2.99±0.50,P < 0.01), but lower than those in model group at 12 hours (3.21±0.53 vs. 4.89±1.14,P < 0.05). The levels of MDA (nmol/mg) in TFXF group were significantly lower than those in model group at 6 hours and 12 hours (6 hours: 4.04±2.58 vs. 8.89±2.61, 12 hours: 11.31±3.60 vs. 20.60±8.10, bothP < 0.05), while the levels of MPO (U/g) in TFXF group were lower than those in model group at 12 hours (4.79±0.66 vs. 7.22±1.76,P < 0.05). Compared with model group, the lungs in TFXF group showed less morphological changes under light microscopy, such as pulmonary edema, congestion, effusion and fibrosis.Conclusions The method of Tongfu Xiefei may improve hypoxemia and metabolic acidosis, alleviate lung edema and ameliorate pulmonary pathological changes in rat sepsis model. Tongfu Xiefei method shows a protective effect in sepsis by the way of reducing peroxidative damage, inhibiting the release of proinflammatory factors and abating degradation of lung surfactant.

Objective:To explore the correlation among risk factors of hypertension and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in officers of regiment and above in troops stationed in Zhejiang .Methods :A total of 2641 officers of regi-ment and above from troops stationed in Zhejiang ,who participated in annual physical examination in our hospital from 2012 to 2013 ,were selected .Correlation among body mass index (BMI) ,waist circumference (WC) ,WHtR , waist/hip ratio (WHR) and blood pressure were analyzed ;receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) was used to compare and analyze the predictive value of above four indexes on hypertension and judge the optimal cut-off point . Results :(1) Pearson correlation analysis indicated that WHtR was positively correlated with WC ,BMI ,WHR ,sys-tolic and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.25~0.94 ,P<0.005~ <0.001);(2) Among above four indexes ,WHtR had the largest area under the ROC curve 0.697 (95% CI 0.676~0.718) and the optimal cut-off point was 0.51 ;and it's 0.651 (95% CI 0.639~0.662) for BMI ,0.689 (95% CI 0.664~0.751) for WC and 0.685 (95% CI 0.672~0.698) for WHR ;for morbidity risk of hypertension ,compared with BMI ,WC and WHR ,WHtR possessed the most balanced sensitivity (60.68% ) and specificity (70.74% ) ,and the largest OR 4.12 (3.71~4.59) .Conclusion:(1) Among officers of regiment and above in troops stationed in Zhejiang ,anthropometric indexes are closely relat-ed to blood pressure ,which can be regarded as simple indexes for predicting and assessing morbidity risk of the popu-lation ;(2) Waist-to-height ratio may be the best anthropometric index evaluating risk of hypertension in these popu-lation and its optimal cuf-off point is 0.51 for predicting hypertension .

Objective: To study the effect of Chinese medicinal herb Hongqu on induction differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells to osteoblasts.Methods:60 SD rats were divided randomly into 6 groups: blank control group,Low,medium and high dose of Hongqu groups,Provastain group,Premarin group.Each group was given distilled water,Hongqu extraction,Provastain solution,and Premarin solution through intragastric administration.10 days later,killed the rats and took the rats’ blood to prepared medicated serum.Meanwhile,the bone marrow stromal cells which comes from femur and tibia of the 4-5 week’s rats were cultured in medicated serum culture-medium,and MTT,para-nitro-pheneye phosphate,and the tinctorial method of alizarin Bordeaux were used to observe the effect of Hongqu on such aspects as the proliferation,ALP expression,and mineralization tuberculation of marrow stromal cells induction differentiation to osteoblasts.Results: Mmedicated serum of Hongqucould obviously increace the quantity of marrow stromal cells induction differentiation to osteoblasts,the level of the ALP expression and mineralization tuberculation(P

ObjectiveTo study the effects of aqueous extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum(AET) on the blood glucose in normal and alloxan(ALX)-diabetic mice.MethodsFasting blood glucose and glucose tolerance in normal and ALX-diabetic mice were measured respectively 7 days after AET had been given.ResultsAET had not significantly effected the fasting blood glucose of normal mice, but improved their glucose toleranc. Otherwise, AET reduced fasting blood glouse of diabetic mice induced by ALX significantly.ConclusionAET can be used on treatment of diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND:Fracture healing in diabetic patients is usual y unsatisfactory because of hormones and metabolic disorder, and an eventual multiple organ dysfunction resulting from high blood glucose. OBJECTIVE:To dynamical y observe the changes of cytokines during the fracture healing process in diabetic rats before and after insulin treatment. METHODS:A total of 120 Sprague-Dawley rats were included in this study. Of them, 90 rats intravenously injected with 5%tetraoxypyrimidine to induce rat models of diabetes were randomized into insulin treatment and diabetes groups, respectively. The remaining 30 rats were intravenously injected with equal volume of saline and selected as control group. The next day, blood glucose was determined. Healing at 1, 4, and 8 weeks after fracture were observed by the X-ray film. Biomechanical strength of the injured right tibia was measured at 4, 6, and 8 weeks after modeling. Cytokines in the osteotylus were determined by immunohistochemical staining and in situ hybridization technique. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The X-ray films showed that the speed of fracture healing in the diabetes group was slower than insulin treatment and control groups. Biomechanical strength of the osteotylus in the diabetes group was significantly decreased compared with the insulin treatment and control groups. However, there were no significant differences in above-mentioned parameters between the control and insulin treatment groups. Bone morphogenetic protein 2, basic fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor-beta, and vascular endothelial growth factor were widely expressed in the osteotylus and their expressions in diabetes group were significantly lower and slower than those in the control and insulin treatment groups. There was no statistical difference between control and insulin treatment groups. These results indicate that osteotylus formation speed, biomechanical strength, and growth factor expressions at the fracture site in diabetes rats were decreased compared with normal rats. Insulin treatment can enhance cytokine levels at the fracture site, thereby promoting the osteoblast proliferation and fracture healing.

Objective To confirm the effects of statin therapy on mortality of patients with acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS). Methods PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science andCochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for articles using the terms acute lung injury, ALI,acute respiratory distress syndrome, ARDS, statin, simvastatin and rosuvastatin updated to November 17,2015. Randomized controlled trial (RCT) or observational cohort studies investigating the effects of statin therapy onmortality in patients with ALI or ARDS were all identified, without date or language restriction. The control group wasgiven conventional treatment, while the experimental group was treated with statins additionally. The primary outcomewas in-hospital mortality. Meanwhile, ventilator-free day, intensive care unit (ICU)-free day, ICU length of stay (LOS)and ICU mortality were also analyzed. RevMan 5.2 and STATA 13 software were used for systematic review and Metaanalysis, and funnel plot was used to analyze the publication bias. Results A total of five trials including threerandomized controlled trials and two observational studies were included. Among 1636 patients enrolled in the study,there were 739 patients in experimental group, and 897 in control group. It was shown by Meta analysis that there was nosignificant difference in in-hospital mortality between experimental group and control group [relative risk (RR) = 0.96,95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 0.79-1.15, P = 0.63]. The subgroup analysis based on RCT and cohort study, or thesubgroup analysis of different statins showed that there was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality betweenthe experimental group and the control group (both P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in ventilator-freedays [mean difference (MD) = 1.41, 95%CI = -0.32-3.13, P = 0.11], ICU-free days (MD = -0.23, 95%CI = -1.61-1.15,P = 0.75), ICU length of stay (MD = -1.03, 95%CI = -6.55-4.50, P = 0.72), or ICU mortality (RR = 0.88, 95%CI =0.68-1.14, P = 0.33) between the experimental group and the control group. It was shown by funnel plot that there was nopublication bias in in-hospital mortality. Conclusion The systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that statin may not be associated with a significant reduction in mortality, ventilator-free day, ICU-free day and ICU length of stayin patients with ALI/ARDS.

Objective To analyze the related risk factors for delayed gastric emptying ( DGE) after pancreaticoduodenectomy .Methods Clinical data on 308 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy at Ningbo Lihuili hospital from January 2009 to December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed , and patients were divided into DGE group and non-DGE group.Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to study the risk factors associated with DGE during perioperative period .Results DGE occurred in 55 patients (17.9%).The incidences of grade A, grade B and grade C DGE were 7.1%(22/308), 6.2%(19/308) and 4.5%(14/308), respectively.The univariate analysis showed the method of pancreatic digestive tract reconstruction ( pancreaticogastrostomy or pancreaticojejunostomy ) , postoperative pancreatic fistula, postoperative biliary fistula and postoperative intraabdominal infection were risk factors for DGE after surgery. Multivariate analysis indicated that the method of pancreatic digestive tract reconstruction (OR=1.19, P=0.046), postoperative pancreatic fistula ( OR=1.33, P=0.014), postoperative biliary fistula (OR=1.43, P=0.047) and postoperative intraabdominal infection (OR=1.51, P=0.001) were independently associated with DGE . Postoperative pancreatic fistula (OR=3.692, P=0.021) and intraabdominal infection (OR=3.725,P=0.003)were also the independent risk factors for Grade B and Grade C DGE. Conclusions DGE after pancreaticoduodenectomy was strongly related to the postoperative complications .Postoperative pancreatic fistula , biliary fistula and intraabdominal infection were associated with increased risk of DGE , while pancreaticogastrostomy reduced the incidence of DGE by decreasing the incidence of pancreatic or biliary fistula .

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic values of MSCT for detecting atherosclerotic plaques on New Zealand rabbits models in comparison with pathologic results. Methods Fifteen New Zealand rabbits were enrolled in this study, including 5 with balloon injury and high-fat diet ( group A), 5 with high-fat diet only (group B) and 5 with regular feed (group C). 16th week late, contrast-enhanced MSCT scan was performed in all rabbits with 16 slice MSCT (16-MSCT) in group A and 64 slice MSCT (64-MSCT) in group B and C. The CT and pathological findings were compared in a double-blind manner. The sensitivities and specificities of 16-MSCT and 64-MSCT for detecting atherosclerotic plaques were evaluated by using Fisher test and x2 test. Results Sixty and seventy-five images on 16-MSCT and 64-MSCT had corresponding pathological slices. The sensitivities for the detection of plaques on 16-MSCT and 64-MSCT were 41.5% (22/53) and 64. 9% (24/37), and spocificities of 85. 7% (6/7) and 89. 5% (34/38), respectively. Conclusions 64-MSCT has a higher sensitivity in the detection of atherosclerotic plaques than 16-MSCT. Both scanners can be used to preclude the diagnosis of atherosclerosis.