AIM: To investigate the potential of murine epidermal stem cell (ESC) differentiation after seeded in a biodegradable carrier and implanted subcutaneously into syngeneic recipient mice. METHODS: ES cells were induced in vitro to differentiate into ESCs. After stained with a fluorescent dye Hoechst 33342, these ESCs were seeded into a polyglycolic acid (PGA) net containing collagen gel, functioning as a cell carrier, and implanted subcutaneously into 129/J mice, which were syngeneic to these stem cells. RESULTS: The ESCs kept alive in the implant when observed under a fluorescent microscopy 3 weeks or longer after implantation, and could differentiate into hair follicle - like structure,glandular structure, and gave rise to additional structures displaying features resembling native dermis. No apparent rejection or severe side effects were observed at least 10 weeks post- implantation. CONCLUSION: It is feasible to use these ESCs as seed cells in the study to fabricate dermal equivalent having the potential to develop dermal appendages.

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of endovascular treatment in solving symptomatic cerebral artery tandem lesions.Methods:From June 201 2 to February 201 4,1 2 cases (24 lesions)with symptomatic cerebral artery tandem lesions were accepted for the endovascular treatment. The distributions of the tandem lesions were as follows:the common carotid artery and internal carotid ar-tery (1 case),the internal carotid artery and the proximal of the carotid cavernous sinus segment (3 ca-ses),the internal carotid artery and the distal of the carotid cavernous sinus segment (4 cases),the in-tracranial segment of internal carotid artery and middle cerebral artery M1 segment (2 cases),the first segment of vertebral artery and intracranial segment of vertebral artery (2 cases).All of these cases were treated from distal lesions to proximal lesions except for tandem lesions in the internal carotid artery and the distal of the carotid cavernous sinus segment in order to obtain better support.Tandem lesions were treated in the same operation with local anesthesia or general anesthesia.The procedures of the 1 2 cases retrospectively were analyzed and the peri-operation complications and responsibility region recurrent is-chemic stroke incidents observed.Results:All tandem lesions were solved successfully all at once.There were no peri-operation complications or recurrent ischemic stroke incidents.There were no recurrent is-chemic stroke incidents or stent restenosis cases in the follow-up.Conclusion:It is safe and effective for selective endovascular treatment in solving symptomatic cerebral artery tandem lesions at the same time, but we should take careful preoperative evaluation and improve the operation plan.

Objective To establish a zebrafish IGFBP-2 gene knock-down model by morphilino modified antisense oligonucleotide injection, so as to investigate the abnormal phenotypes of heart and vessels in early stage of zebrafish development and the expression of zebrafish cardiogenesis related genes. Methods The spatiotemporal expression of IGFBP-2 gene in early stage of zebrafish development was testified by whole mount in situ hybridization with antisense RNA IGFBP-2 probe. The IGFBP-2 morpholino (IGFBP-2 MO) that especially inhibited the gene promoter and standard control morpholino (Con-MO) were designed and synthesized by Gene-tools Corporation. Four different concentration gradients (0.05, 0.10, 0.25 and 1.0 mmol/L) were set as IGFBP-MO injection groups with 0.25 mmol/L Con-MO injection group and wild type group as controls. Contribution to the incidence of heart abnormal phenotypes and mortality rate induced by 4 different IGFBP-2 concentrations injection group was recorded and compared with 2 control groups. Heart abnormal phenotypes at different developmental stages in 0.25 mmol/L IGFBP-2 injection group were observed in detail. To validate the effectiveness of IGFBP-2 MO, the expression of enhanced green fluorescence presented by wild type zebrafish embryos at 12hpf which received single injection of IGFBP-2 EGFP recombinant plasmid and those co-injected with Con-MO or IGFBP-2 MO were detected. To investigate the regulation relationship between IGFBP-2 gene and other cardiogenesis related genes, expression of atrium specific marker gene Amhc was detected in IGFBP-2 MO and wild type group by in situ hybridization. Ventricle specific green fluorescence of Vmhc-EGFP transgenic zebrafish embryos whose IGFBP-2 gene was knocked-down were compared with those untreated. Zebrafish peripheral vascular development in the IGFBP-2 MO group was also checked out by micro-angiography. Results Whole mount in situ hybridization revealed that IGFBP-2 gene expressed in turn at eyes, midbrain and then focused on liver in early stage of zebrafish development. The micro-injection of 0.25 mmol/L IGFBP-2 MO resulted in heart malformation in nearly 60% of all injected zebrafish embryos. Heart malformation phenotypes included slow heart beat, pericardial edema, weak ventricle systole contraction and heart tube looping disorder. Some of them represented atria dilation, blood regurgitation and ciculation obstruction. Wild type zebrafish embryos that received single injection of IGFBP-2 EGFP plasmid DNA or co-injected with Con-MO presented strong enhanced green fluorescence at 12hpf, meanwhile, the fluorescence was barely seen in the embryos co-injected with IGFBP-2 MO. This strongly validated the gene specific knock-down effect of IGFBP-2 MO. Amhc was down-regulated at 48hpf in IGFBP-2 MO group. Vmhc-EGFP transgenic zebrafish down-regulated by IGFBP-2 gene also resulted in attenuated expression of ventriclar-specific green fluorescence protein at 48hpf. Intersegmental blood vessels of IGFBP-2 MO group by micro-angiography at 60hpf demonstrated an sparsate and chaos image, which suggested that IGFBP-2 gene expression was involved in the regulation of normal vascular development. Conclusions Micro-injection of IGFBP-2 MO is an efficient way to knock-down IGFBP-2 gene in zebrafish embryos. IGFBP-2 gene expression down-regulation leads to heart and vessels maldevelopment and have an impact on the expression of cardiogenesis related genes of zebrafish embryos as well. In short, IGFBP-2 plays a critical role in the normal cardiovascular development of zebrafish embryos.

Objective:To anslysis the hemodynamic states of vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia based on computational fluid dynamics technique.Methods:The original DICOM format image data from a patient with vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD), were imported by the Mimics software directly,and the 3D Objects were constructed.The simulation of model was made with Ansys software, the hemodynamic pa-rameters such as streamlines, wall shear stress( WSS) and wall pressure were described.Results:There was stable laminar flow in proximal basilar artery and was no blood flow mixed by bilateral vertebral arter-y.However, Spiral flows were appeared in distal tortuous basilar artery.The low WSS regions in the ver-tebra-basilar junction section and inferior segment of basilar artery were coincide with the high wall pres-sure regions.It could be speculated the initial growth regions might be located in the vertebra-basilar junction section and inferior segment of basilar artery.Local regions with low WSS and high wall pressure might be associated with the occurrence and development of VBD.Conclusion: CFD numerical simula-tion maybe can provide a theoretical basis for the role of hemodynamic factors in occurrence and develop-ment of VBD.

Objective:To analyze correlation factors of hemodynamic damage after carotid artery stenting.Methods:In this study, 66 cases (71 lesions) who undertook carotid artery stenting were col-lected and the correlation factors of hemodynamic damage were analyzed .Results:Hemodynamic damage emerged in 23 cases (32.4%), of which, 11.3%developed hypotension.The distance between bifurca-tion and lesions (P=0.002 0), plaque distribution (P=0.000 2), plaque character (P=0.001 9), post-dilation ( P =0.002 6 ) were associated with hemodynamic damage by single factor analysis . However, only eccentric plaque (P=0.015 3) and calcified plaque (P=0.009 7) were associated with hemodynamic damage by multiple factors analysis .All the patients could reach stable circulation by drugs during operation , and no cerebral ischemic events ( transient ischemic attack or stroke ) and cardiovascu-lar ischemic events happened .Conclusion: The distance between bifurcation and lesions , eccentric plaques, calcified plaques are correlation factors of hemodynamic damage .

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of clear aligners in the anterior region in non-extraction cases by establishing a three-dimensional model of crown-root fusion to guide clinical application. Methods: Eleven patients visiting the orthodontic department of Xuzhou Stomatological Hospital from December 2020 to December 2021 were collected, and the orthodontic plan was designed using Maestro 3D Dental Studio scheduling software to obtain the expected three-dimensional model of the patient's orthodontic treatment result. CBCT, intraoral scan, and 3D reconstruction software were used to create a postoperative model of the patient. The crown and root data were aligned in Geomagic Studio 2014, and differences in torque and axial inclination between the actual model after treatment and the predicted model of the anterior teeth before treatment were compared in 3-matic. Results: The actual torque angles of the anterior teeth were all smaller than the predicted angles before treatment, with the highest realization rate of 77.55% for lateral incisors and the lowest of 60.70% for central incisors; the actual axial inclination angles of the anterior teeth were also smaller than the predicted angles before treatment, with the highest realization rate of 81.49% for central incisors and the lowest of 74.95% for cuspids. Conclusion A digital model of crown-root integration based on a combination of 3D reconstruction and intraoral scanning techniques is advantageous in assessing the efficacy of clear aligners. In non-extraction cases with clear aligner, the efficiency of movement is higher for small areas of the anterior region.

Objective:To examine the mid - and long-term outcomes of surgical treatment of brachiocephalic Takayasu arteritis.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. The clinical data of 39 patients,which had been diagnosed as brachiocephalic Takayasu arteritis (244 cases),who underwent surgical treatment,were analyzed between July 2012 to November 2022 at Department of Endoluminal Vascular Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. There were 5 males and 34 females, aged (37.9±14.0)years (range:13 to 71 years). Despite medical treatment, the patients suffered severe ischemic symptoms continually and then underwent surgical interventions. Among them, 20 patients underwent endovascular procedures, 11 underwent open surgical procedures, and 8 underwent hybrid procedures. Patients were followed up through outpatient visits at 1, 3, 6 months after surgery and once every year later. Follow-up was conducted until November 2022. Operation status, postoperative complications and re-intervention of patients were recorded and the Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to analyze postoperative vascular patency rates.Results:All 39 surgeries were successful, with no intraoperative death or serious complications. The follow-up period was (48.8±38.2) months(range:1 to 123 months). Thirty-three patients experienced symptom relief after surgery, and 6 patients required secondary surgical interventions. The patency rates for the endovascular treatment group at 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year were 95.0%, 75.2%, 60.2%, and 60.2%, respectively, while the patency rates for open surgery were all 90.9%. In the hybrid surgery group, the patency rates at 1-, 3-, 5-, and 8-year were all 87.5%.Conclusion:For patients with brachiocephalic Takayasu arteritis, choice of an appropriate blood flow revascularization intervention should be based on the patient′s condition,and the mid-and long-term outcomes are satisfactory.

Objective:To examine the mid - and long-term outcomes of surgical treatment of brachiocephalic Takayasu arteritis.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. The clinical data of 39 patients,which had been diagnosed as brachiocephalic Takayasu arteritis (244 cases),who underwent surgical treatment,were analyzed between July 2012 to November 2022 at Department of Endoluminal Vascular Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. There were 5 males and 34 females, aged (37.9±14.0)years (range:13 to 71 years). Despite medical treatment, the patients suffered severe ischemic symptoms continually and then underwent surgical interventions. Among them, 20 patients underwent endovascular procedures, 11 underwent open surgical procedures, and 8 underwent hybrid procedures. Patients were followed up through outpatient visits at 1, 3, 6 months after surgery and once every year later. Follow-up was conducted until November 2022. Operation status, postoperative complications and re-intervention of patients were recorded and the Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to analyze postoperative vascular patency rates.Results:All 39 surgeries were successful, with no intraoperative death or serious complications. The follow-up period was (48.8±38.2) months(range:1 to 123 months). Thirty-three patients experienced symptom relief after surgery, and 6 patients required secondary surgical interventions. The patency rates for the endovascular treatment group at 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year were 95.0%, 75.2%, 60.2%, and 60.2%, respectively, while the patency rates for open surgery were all 90.9%. In the hybrid surgery group, the patency rates at 1-, 3-, 5-, and 8-year were all 87.5%.Conclusion:For patients with brachiocephalic Takayasu arteritis, choice of an appropriate blood flow revascularization intervention should be based on the patient′s condition,and the mid-and long-term outcomes are satisfactory.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with spontaneous splenorenal shunt (SSRS) in liver cirrhosis, and to compare the effects and prognosis of different treatments.Methods:The data of cirrhotic patients with SSRS at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between 2016-2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into Group A receiving conservative treatment, Group B by simple embolization, Group C undergoing TIPS combined with embolization, and Group D given liver transplantation. Life status, liver function changes, incidences of adverse events, and survival between groups were compared.Results:SSRS diameter was positively correlated with blood ammonia ( R=0.478) and negatively correlated with portal vein diameter ( R=-0.301). SSRS diameter is a protective factor for gastrointestinal hemorrhage and ascites and a risk factor for hepatic encephalopathy; Blood ammonia decreased and prothrombin time prolonged after treatment in group A ( P<0.05), blood ammonia decreased and albumin increased in group B ( P<0.05). Hemoglobin and bilirubin increased in group C ( P<0.05), blood ammonia and bilirubin decreased and platelets and albumin increased in group D ( P<0.05); Survival analysis showed that the prognosis of groups A and C was related to liver function, and the survival rate of group D was the highest of all ( P<0.05). Conclusions:SSRS embolization is safe and effective, and liver transplantation improves patient survival. Individualized treatment should be selected based on patient symptoms, liver function, and shunt diameter.

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of the long-term intermittent maintenance treatment with tacrolimus 0.03％ ointment versus traditional treatment in reducing relapses and prolonging the recurrence interval in children with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD).Methods A two-phase randomized,open-labelled,controlled clinical trial was conducted from September 2012 to November 2013.In the first phase,a total of 171 children aged 2-15 years with moderate to severe AD were enrolled from 7 hospitals in China,and received conventional treatment with tacrolimus 0.03％ ointment twice a day for 2-6 weeks.At the end of the treatment,the patients who achieved an investigator's global assessment (IGA) score ≤ 2 (n =125) were randomly classified into 2 groups to receive the second-phase treatment:test group (n =62) receiving intermittent maintenance treatment with tacrolimus 0.03％ ointment twice a week (Monday and Thursday),and control group (n =63) receiving no treatment.If the patients in the 2 groups experienced relapse,they received conventional treatment with tacrolimus 0.03％ ointment twice a day.The overall observation period was 6 months.The primary endpoint was the time to the first relapse,which was defined as the number of days from the end of the first-phase treatment to the first relapse.The secondary endpoints included the number of relapses at the second-phase trial,the disease severity at the time of relapse,the duration of relapse,the pruritus score at the time of relapse,the total amount of tacrolimus ointment used,the total response rate at the second-phase trial,and the incidence of adverse events.Results A total of 125 children with AD were enrolled into the second-phase trial,and 121 of them completed the follow-up.Among the 121 patients,the recurrence rate was significantly lower in the test group (25/60,41.7％) than in the control group (46/61,75.4％;x2 =14.20,P ＜ 0.001).The time to the first relapse was significantly longer in the test group (46.9 ± 37.7 d) than in the control group (28.8 ± 32.3 d;Z =1 093.50,P =0.020).The total number of recurrence was 31 and 86 in the test group and control group respectively,and the mean number of recurrence in each patient was significantly lower in the test group (0.52 ± 0.68) than in the control group (1.41 ± 1.23,t =4.96,P ＜ 0.001).There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding disease severity during relapse (eczema area and severity index:Z =971.50,P =0.39),duration of relapse (Z =747.00,P =0.07),and pruritus score during relapse (Z =894.00,P =0.95).The therapeutic drug was tolerated well in all the children,and no tacrolimus-related serious adverse events occurred.Conclusion The intermittent maintenance treatment with tacrolimus 0.03％ ointment twice a week for 6 months can effectively and safely prevent and reduce relapses,and prolong the recurrence interval in children with moderate to severe AD.