Scaffold is one of the key elements required for tissue engineering. Porous scaffolds have several special advantages for muscle tissue engineering, and they are beneficial to cell survival, myogenic differentiation, and vascular ingrowth. The performance of porous scaffolds is closely related to the property of the biomaterials used. Additionally, the pore size and porosity may affect cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. This review focuses on the application of porous scaffolds in muscle tissue engineering, including their categories, application, and advantages.
Biocompatible Materials ; Cell Adhesion ; Humans ; Muscles ; physiology ; Porosity ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of ultrasound in thyroid nodular disease.Methods Eighty-seven patients with thyroid nodule in hospital from 2010-2011 were taken ultrasound examination,including 23 cases with benign nodules and 64 cases with malignant nodules.Univariate analysis and mutivariate Logistic regression analysis were taken to test the ultrasonic index (internal echo,boundary,size,shape,microcalcifications,and aspect ratio) for discovery of the best diagnostic ultrasonic index to identify benign and malignant nodules.Results The ultrasound in the patients with malignant thyroid nodules showed the hypoecho,unclear border,irregular shape,microcalcifications,low blood supply,the aspect ratio ＞ 1.The ultrasound in the patients with benign thyroid nodules showed high or equal echo,clear border,regular shape,high blood supply,and the aspect ratio≤ 1.The ultrasonic indices between two groups had statistically significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).The shape and microcalcifications were the best ultrasonic diagnostic index to indentify the benign and malignant nodules with an EXP(B) 20.12 and 19.14,respectively.Conclusions The ultrasound is helpful in the diagnosis of thyroid nodular disease and identification of benign and malignant thyroid nodules.The ultrasonic images are the basic data for the clinical diagnosis of thyroid nodules.

Objective To identify the isolated rat bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs),and evaluate the efficiency of adenoviral vector expressing human urokinase type plasminogen activator(uPA) in transfection of rat MSCs and its effect on proliferation of MSCs. Methods MSCs were isolated and purified by pasted wall purification,and were identified by immunicytochemistry.The transfection efficiency of uPA was detected by fluorescent microscopy,the expression of uPA in MSCs was detected by Western blotting,and the proliferation of MSCs was evaluated by MTT. Results The harvested MSCs exhibited the typical appearance of MSCs,and it was revealed by immunohistochemistry that the expression of MSCs markers CD29 and CD90 was positive,while that of CD34 and CD45 was negative.A tendency of increase in expression of green fluorescent protein(GFP) was observed with increase of multiplicity of infection(MOI).After transfection with AduPA for 72 h,the transfection efficiency reached(94.0?1.5)% at MOI of 80,and positive GFP cells could still be observed even after 7 d.The transfected uPA had no effect on the proliferation of MSCs. Conclusion MSCs are favourable genetic vectors to express uPA,and can be used for treatment of liver fibrosis.

Objective To understand the clinical features of acute renal failure(ARF)as the initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).Methods Eight cases of ARF in SLE from Jan 1995 to Apt 2006 were investigated,descriptive analysis and literature review were performed.Results①The symp- tom of ARF in SLE was mainly oliguria,with severe accompany symptoms and complications.②The level of leucocyte and hemoglobin was low in laboratory tests,also the complement level decreased significantly.The most frequent renal pathology was typeⅣ,Ⅳ+ⅤLN.③Large dose steroid and CTX were the mainstay of treatment.In addition,SCUF,CVVHDF and hemodialysis could be used for lethal conditions.Conclusion ARF can be the first manifestation of SLE and it usually represents more severe disease and more complica- tions.Large dose steroid and CTX can improve prognois.In cases refractory to steroid and if the effect is obso- lete,CTX treatment SCUF,CVVHDF and hemodialysis can be use.

Objective To observe the expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) in the progress of rat subchronic fluorosis,and analyse the mechanism of nitric oxide(NO) free radical injnry in bone.Methods Male wistar rats were divided randomly by body weight into two groups.i.e.sodium fluoride group and control group.Sodium fluoride group was given drinking water with 150 mg/L sodium fluoride,and control group was given tap water only.The animals were bred for 24 weeks.Every four weeks some rats were killed.The contents of serum and bone fluoride were examined and analyzed.The levels of serum NO were determined by Griess Reagent.The expressions of iNOS mRNA and protein were analyzed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.Results The serum NO contents significantly increased(t=9.36,P＜0.01) in NaF-treated rats after 8 weeks[(19.94±3.04)nmol/L],but significantly decreased(t=10.47,4.46,P＜0.01) after 20 weeks[(11.55±3.54)nmol/L]and 24 weeks[(20.83±2.49)nmol/L],compared with control group[(9.11±1.21,31.13±3.93,33.10±7.37)nmol/L].The expression of iNOS mRNA significantly increased(t=13.09,4.82,14.23,4.64,7.82,5.29,P＜0.01)in rats treated with sodium fluoride[(1.87±0.11),(1.87±0.78),(1.90±0.29),(1.93±0.67),(1.88±0.38),(1.84±0.03)],compared with control group[(0.41±0.25),(0.30±0.17),(0.18±0.06),(0.63±0.15),(0.66±0.04),(0.65±0.55)],and these proteins mainly appeared in hyperplasie zone and hypertrophic zone cells of epiphyseal plate,cartilages,articular cartilage cells,osteoblasts and ligament cells.Conclusions High dose fluoride might persistentlv induce the expressions of iNOS and catalyze synthesis of NO,then regulates osteoblast and osteoclast activitv and finally influences bone turnover.

Objective To observe the expressions of matrix metal proteinases-13(MMP-13) mRNA and tissue inhibitor of metal protease- 1 (TIMP- 1) mRNA and analyse the molecular mechanism of bone matrix degradation in the progress of rat subchronic fluorosis. Methods Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups according to body weight, i.e. sodium floride group and control group. Rats in the sodium fluoride group were given drinking water containing 150 mg/L F-, and the animals in the control group were given tap water. The animals were bred for 24 weeks. Every 4 weeks some rats were killed. The change of obsteoclst was observed by transmission electron microscope. The expression levels of MMP-13 mRNA and TIMP-I mRNA were analyzed by RT-PCR. Results The number of lysesome and the synthesis of lysosoma enzyme in osteeclast were decreased. The expression of MMP-13 mRNA was significantly increased(t=2.29,2.41,3.07,2.52, 3.15,2.22, P<0.05) in rats treated with sodium fluoride (1.87±0.67,1.87±0.75,1.90±0.73,1.93±0.86,1.88±0.61,1.84±0.53), compared with control group(1.24±0.39, 1.19±0.27,1.07±0.22, I. 15 ~ 0.17, 1.17±0.18, 1.20±0.62). The expression of TIMP-1 mRNA was significantly increased (t=2.69,2.19,2.68,2.46,2.43,2.96, P<0.05) in rats treated with sodium fluoride(1.89±0.77,1.70±0.85,1.61±0.82,1.81±0.84,1.70±0.74, 2.06±0.96), compared with control group (1.07±0.39,0.87±0.49,0.71±0.48,0.99±0.43,0.95±0.46,0.89±0.57). Conclusion High dose fluoride might persistently induce the expressions of MMP-13 mRNA and TIMP-1 mRNA and may be involved in bone turnover.

Objective To investigate the effect of aluminum on hair loss induc ed by fluoride in fluorosis mice.Methods Sixty male C57BL mice were divided into four groups according to body mass:control group,fluoride (F) group (F-100 mg/L),aluminum(Al) group(Al3+ 270 mg/L) and F + Al group(F-100 mg/L + Al3+270 mg/L).Mice were killed 1 month and 3 months after the experiment,respectively.Bone F content was detected by ion-selective electrode method.The level of bone Al was measured through inductively coupled plasma emission spectrum.Dental fluorosis and hair loss of mice were evaluated by visual method.Results One month after the experiment,no dental fluorosis and hair loss was found in all four groups.The content of bone F was the highest in F group [(2401.649 + 86.835) mg/kg],and the lowest in A1 group [(427.006 + 11.878) mg/kg].The levels of bone F in F + Al group and control group were (1210.332 + 19.531)mg/kg and (538.001 + 33.337)mg/kg,respectively.The difference was statistically significant between any two groups (all P ＜ 0.05).Three month after the experiment,all mice of F treatment group had dental fluorosis and hair loss(10/10).Alopecia areas were found in the neck and back regions only.There was no hair loss in control group,Al group and F + Al group.No dental fluorosis was found in both control and Al groups.Only 2 mice were found with dental fluorosis in F + Al group.The levels of bone F in F group,F + Al group,control group and Al group were (4098.645 + 58.842),(1888.165 ± 12.187),(876.258 + 14.462) and (662.385 ± 8.966) mg/kg,respectively.The difference was statistically significant between any two groups (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The hair loss is found in fluorosis mice.Hair loss of mice is closely associated with the level of F exposure.Al can prevent the occurrence of hair loss induced by F in mice through reducing the accumulation of F.

Objective To explore the distribution rule of metastatic lymph node in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods 315 histopathologically proved NPC patients were studied retrospectively.All patients had had their nasopharynx scanned by MRI with plain and contrast enhanced sequences.The distribution of lymph node was divided into six cervical levels plus retro- pharyngeal nodes(RN) according to RTOG guidelines proposed in 2003.Results 254 out of 315 patients (80.6%) had lymph node involvement,with 81 in the right neck alone,72 left neck alone,and 101 both necks;73 in RN alone,21 neck node alone,and 160 both necks and RN node.Skip metastasis was found in only 4 patients (1.6%).There was significant difference in BN metastasis between the primary tumor be- ing located merely on the superior/posterior wall and lateral wall (78% vs 49%,P＜0.01).The incidence of lymph node metastasis in T1,T2,T3 and T4 patients was 73.5%,91.2%,71.9%,73.5% (P＞0.05), respectively,without significant difference between early or advanced T stage in node distribution (P＞0.05).Conclusions The incidence of lymph node metastasis is high in nasopharyngeal carcinoma,with retropharyngeal node being the most commonly involved,but the incidence of skip metastasis is very low. There is no significant difference between T stage and the incidence of lymph node metastasis.So is the dis- tribution of metastatic node.

The paper is about the systematic studies of biological characteristics of 15 stains rhizobia isolated purified from Acacia confusa grew in Guangxi karst environment.The results showed that there were typical characteristics of rhizobia.there were negative reaction about use of 3-ketolactose and beef extract peptone nutrient agar medium,and positive reaction about use of starch and citrate medium,and produce acid in reaction of BTB and litmus milk medium,(NH4)2HPO4 was used as nitrogen sources and both four monosaccharides and three disaccharides could be utilized as carbon sources in 15 strains rhizobia isolated Acacia confuse.Among the 15 strains for the tests,11 strains could deoxidize the nitrate of medium into nitrite,14 strains could grow well on NaCl solution concentration 3.0 %～4.0 %,14 strains could grow at 39℃,13 strains may grow on highest pH12 and 4 strains on lowest pH4 cultrue medium.15 strains can grow in 10% and 11 strains in 10%～30% of CaCO3 solution concentration.

Objective To investigate the immunoregulatory effect and compare the different regula- tions of bone marrow mescnchymal stem cells(MSCs)derived from both lupus(NZBWF1/J)and normal(BALB/ c)mice on T lymphocytes in vitro.Methods MSCs from NZBWF1/J and BALB/c mice bone marrow were iso- lated and expanded,and identified by the surface phenotypes.CD3~+ T lymphocytes isolated by nylon wool columns were stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate(PMA)and co-cultured with or without the two strains of MSCs for 24 h.Intracellular eytokines of T cell,such as interferon(IFN)-?,interleukin(IL)-4,IL-12,IL-6, were analyzed by flow cytometry and quantification of transcription factors T-box expressed in T cells(T-bet) and GATA-binding protein 3(GATA-3)were detected by reverse transcriptase PCR(RT-PCR).T cell apop- tosis was assessed by flow cytometry using rhodamine123.Results The results showed that a decrease of CD3~+ T cell apoptosis was seen when NZBWF1/J MSCs or BALB/c MSCs were added to T cells stimulated by PMA(P＜0.05),and an increase of TH2 cytokines by NZBWF1/J MSCs and TH1 eytokines by BALB/c MSCs were observed in the CD3~+ T cells eo-cuhured with MSCs(P＜0.05).Conclusion It is suggested that the al- teration of T subsets caused by MSCs may interfere with the systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)development and normal MSCs may be effective in the improvement of SLE.NZBWF1/J MSCs have defective immunoregula- tory function when compared with MSCs from healthy mouse strains.