Objective To investigated the potential influences of poly(lactic-co-glycolicacid)(PLGA)scaffold as a platform on the differentiation of mouse bone-marrow stem cells to islet-like cells.Methods Mouse bonemarrow stem cells were grown and differentiated in culture with or without PLGA scaffold,and cell morphology and functions were compared within these groups.Results The PLGA scaffold showed fine biological compatibility.Differentiated islet-like cells were dithizone (DTZ) positive,insulin and C-peptide double positive,glucagon positive and somatostatin positive in both groups.Under electron microscope there were ultrastructures similar to that of islet β cells in cells of both groups.Cells with PLGA scaffold secreted more insulin under high level glucose stimulation (P＜0.01).Conclusions PLGA scaffold was biologically compatible and improved function of the differentiated islet-like cells.

The impact of acupuncture for the pregnancy of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) is discussed in the paper. Nowadays there are various conclusions about the impact of acupuncture for IVF-ET, and it may result from the differences in research designs. The effect is closely related to the demographic and clinical characteristics of subjects, such as age, the diagnosis of barrenness, blood flow index of uterine spiral arteries, the cycle of IVF, etc. Besides, the efficacy is influenced by treatment based on syndrome differentiation or not, the frequency and course of acupuncture in both the treating group and the control group, etc. If more reasonable design is achieved in the further study based on them, more reliable evidence will be provided for the effect and mechanism of the pregnancy of IVF-EF by acupuncture.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To evaluate the clinical characteristics,diagnosis and treatment method of pancreatic sinistral portal hypertension caused by tumors in the body and tail of the pancreas.Methods A retrospective review of 40 patients diagnosed with pancreatic sinistral portal hypertension at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2007 to December 2012 was performed.Results The Initial symptoms were epigastric pain and discomfort (n =12),emaciation (n =5),low-back pain (n =4),splenomegaly (n =2),hematemesis and melena (n =4),hypoglycemic coma (n =1).All 40 patients had splenomegaly and varices in the gastric fundus with normal liver function.8 had combined esophageal varices.24 had hypersplenism and 26 had elevated serum CA19-9 level.25 patients received surgical intervention and 15 were treated conservatively.Pathology confirmed malignancy in 29 patients and benign lesions in 11.Thirty-five patients (35/40,88％) were followed up for 12 to 72 months.For patients undergoing surgery,hypersplenism and varices in the gastric fundus were all relieved.There was no upper gastrointestinal bleeding occurred during follow-up.For patients treated conservatively,hypersplenism remained stable and among them 4 patients had upper gastrointestinal bleeding,and successfully treated by medication,therapeutic endoscopy and interventional therapy.Conclusions Patients with pancreatic sinistral portal hypertension caused by tumor in the body and tail of the pancreas can be cured successfully by surgery.In those patients portal hypertension can present as initial clinical manifestation.

Patients' safety is a hot topic of hospital management all over the word. Strengthening the patients' safety education for medical students and nursing students is an effective measure to protect patients' safety. In nursing school of Chongqing Medical University,patients' safety education was con-ducted through the course of undergraduate education. Contents of patients' safety education were com-bined with the professional courses,which are taught step by step in the professional course learning phase for different grades. Patients' safety education took a lot of teaching forms to cultivate the students' patient safety consciousness and preliminary results were achieved.

This study assessed the effects of leukemia-related protein 16 (LRP16) on the regulation of pancreatic functions in mouse insulinoma (MIN6) cells. Cells with down-regulated expression of LRP16 were obtained by a shRNA interference strategy. Insulin content and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) were examined by radioimmunoassay. Western blotting was applied to detect protein expression. Glucose-stimulated sub-cellular localization of PDX-1 was immunocytochemically determined. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. Our results showed that LRP16 regulated insulin content in MIN6 cells by controlling expression of insulin and insulin transcription factors. LRP16 gene silence in MIN6 cells led to reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. The observation of phosphorylation of serine-473 Akt and the localization of PDX-1 to the nucleus under glucose-stimulation exhibited that LRP16 was a component mediating Akt signaling in MIN6 cells. These results suggest that LRP16 plays a key role in maintaining pancreatic β-cell functions and may help us to understand the protective effects of estrogen on the functions of pancreatic β-cells.

AIM: To investigate the effects of angiotensin-Ⅱ (Ang-Ⅱ) on the proliferation and collagen synthesis in rat cardiac fibroblasts and the expression of Ang-Ⅱ receptor on fibroblasts. METHODS: [3H]-TdR and [3H]-prolin at different concentrations were incubated with the confluent fibroblasts of newborn rats stimulated by Ang-Ⅱ. Receptor of Ang-Ⅱ on fibroblasts and intracellular free calcium ions were examined by autoradiograms and fluorescence technique. RESULTS: In the presence of Ang-Ⅱstimulation, the increase in incorporation of [3H]-TdR and [3H]-prolin was much higher than that of control in a dose-dependent manner. Autoradiograms showed that Ang-Ⅱ was uniformly distributed over the membrane of the fibroblasts. The silver grains on fibroblasts were obviously decreased after adding unlabeled Ang-Ⅱ by the autoradiograms. The concentration of free calcium ions was increased in fibroblast. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that Ang-Ⅱ promotes fibroblast proliferation and the syntheses of collagen protein, in which Ang-Ⅱ binds to the membrane receptor of fibroblasts to activate the signal system in cells, such as intracellular free calcium ions. [

ObjectiveTo investigate the method of establishing damaged endometrial stromal cells (ESC) model in vitro.Methods ( 1 ) From June to December 2011 ESC from normal endometrim at proliferation phase ( n =8 ) and secretory phase ( n =8 ) were isolated,cultured and identified in vitro.( 2 ) ESC was treated with different concentrations of mifepristone or withdrawal of mifepristone at different time point.The proliferation inhibition percent was measured by cell counting kit-8 ( CCK-8 ). ( 3 ) 0 μmol/L (control group)and 60 μmol/L(experimental group) concentration of mifepristone was added into ESC for 48 hours,then withdrew of mifepristone,continued to be cultured for 48 hours.The morphological changes were observed and apoptosis of ESC in different menstrual cycle were detected by flow cytometry.The mRNA and protein level of vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF),caspase-3,8,and 9 were determined by one-step quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR) and western blot.Results( 1 ) ESC from 16 specimens of endometrium were all isolated and cultured successfully. (2) The proliferation inhibition rate of ESC was correlated with concentration and duration of mifepristone positively. The proliferation of ESC could be recovered at a range of time after withdrawal of mifepristone.However,when the concentration of mifepristone was 100 μmol/L,the growth of ESC recovered very hardly. (3) The damaged ESC spacing increased,the spindle shape and vacuolization in the cytoplasm were observed in experimental group; the rate of apoptosis of these damaged cells was significantly increased compared with control groups,which were (52 ± 12)％ vs.( 13 ± 5 ) ％ at the proliferative phase and (53 ± 6) ％ vs.( 32 ± 3 ) ％ at the secretory phase ( all P ＜0.05).The relative mRNA level of VEGF was 0.52± 0.12 in experimental group and 1.00 ± 0.17 in control group at proliferation phase (P ＜0.05).And the relative mRNA level of VEGF was 0.19 ±0.03 in experimental group and 0.81 ±0.07 in control group at secretory phase (P ＜ 0.05).The relative level of VEGF protein in the experimental group were both decreased 1.98 and 2.79 folds at the proliferation phase and the secretory phase when compared with those in control group,respectively ( P ＜ 0.05 ).While the relative levels of caspase-3,8,9 mRNA were 5.62 ± 0.65,5.41 ± 0.53,7.22 ± 0.51 in the experimental group and 1.00 ± 0.44,1.00 ± 0.21,1.00 ± 0.32 in control group at the proliferative phase.In the mean time,the relative levels of caspase-3,8,9 mRNA were 10.22 ± 0.72,25.3 ± 1.72,9.48 ± 1.89 in experimental group and 1.42 ± 0.14,1.14 ± 0.28,1.16 ± 0.12 in control group at the secretory phase,respectively (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the control group,the levels of caspase protein in the experimental group were increased 2.04 and 1.60 folds in caspase-3,4.23 and 1.49 folds in caspase-8,2.65 and 3.5 folds in caspase-9 at the proliferative phase and at the secretory phase,respectively (P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionThe damaged model of ESC can be established after 48 hours by the withdrawal of 60 μmol/L mifepristone in treatment of ESC for 48 hours.

Objective To explore the impact of high‐load atorvastatin on T cell subsets in patients with unstable angina (UA) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) .Methods One hundred and eighty patients with UA were randomly divided into high‐load atorvastatin group ,ordinary‐load atorvastatin group and routine group ,60 cases in each group .The ratios of CD4+ T cell , CD8+ T cell and the frequencies of CD4+ CD25+ Treg were detected in 3 groups 1 day before PCI and 1 week ,1 month and 6 months after PCI by flow cytometry analysis .Results Different doses of atorvastatin reduced the ratio of CD4+ T cells and in‐creased the ratio of CD8+ T cells and also the frequencies of CD4+ CD25+ Treg after PCI for 1 week ,1 month and 6 months .The longer the time to take atorvastatin ,the more obvious the effect was(P<0 .05) .The ratios of CD4+ ,CD8+ T cells and the frequen‐cies of CD4+CD25+ Treg after PCI for 1 month and 6 months in high‐load atorvastatin showed significant difference compared with those in ordinary‐load atorvastatin group and routine group(P<0 .05) .Conclusion Atorvastatin could regulate the balance of T cell subsets in patients with UA ,and thus it may reduce the UA onset and the treatment effect of high‐load atorvastatin is more sig‐nificant .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the blood supply of the pedicle fat grafts with the third lumbar segmental artery and its clinical effects on reoperation for lumbar disc herniation.

METHODSTwelve sides of 6 adult cadaver examples were contributed to investigate the courser of lumbar segmental vessels and the distribution of hypodermic capillary net of the dorsal branch of the third lumbar segmental artery. From January 2000 to January 2007,49 patients needed reoperation to treat lumbar disc herniation,including 26 males and 23 females with an average age of 55.6 years (ranged from 39 to 70 years). Duration between two operations ranged from 8 months to 15 years with an average of 6.9 years. Reoperative reasons included recurrent lumbar disc protrusion(30 cases)postoperative epidural scar formation (17 cases), postoperative epidural cyst formation (2 cases). Of them,9 patients underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion at the second operation. The pedicle fat grafts with the third lumbar segmental artery were covered on the sites of the laminectomy in these patients. After negative pressure drainage tube were pulled out, 2 ml Chitsan were injected to the sites of the laminectomy and around epidural nerve root through epidural catheter. VAS score and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to assess clinical outcomes before and after operation.

RESULTSThe courser of third lumbar segmental vessels were invariant at the lateral face of the lumbar vertebral body. The dorsal branch of the third lumbar segmental artery penetrated thoracolumbar fascia and formed rich hypodermic capillary net in the region. All patients were followed up from 5 to 8 years with an average of 5.6 years. VAS score of low back pain and leg pain decreased respectively from preoperative 7.6 +/- 1.2, 8.9 +/- 0.9 to 3.6 +/- 0.5, 3.0 +/- 0.4 at final follow-up (P < 0.01); and ODI score decreased from preoperative 44.1 +/- 6.2 to 13.9 +/- 3.6 at final follow-up (P < 0.01). According to ODI score to evaluate the clinical outcomes, 29 cases got excellent results, 11 good, 7 fair, 2 poor.

CONCLUSIONThe pedicle fat grafts with the third lumbar segmental artery and Chitsan can reduce epidural scar formation and prevent peridural fibrosis and adhesion and improve clinical effects of reoperation for lumbar disc herniation.

Adipose Tissue ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Arteries ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; blood supply ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reoperation ; Transplantation ; Treatment Outcome

Clinical characteristics,including primary and secondary sexual characteristics,basal endocrine profiles,and imaging results were reviewed.Follow-up data were recorded.16 patients had normal karyotypes,manifest amastia,infantile genitalia,amenorrhea,and delayed epiphyseal fusion at the knee and wrist joints.Serum gonadotropic hormone levels were significantly below normal values.15 patients underwent a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test and 6 patients had a prolonged GnRH stimulation test.16 patients underwent pituitary or brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),which showed small pituitaries in three patients,wing tips of suspicious nodules in 2 patients,an empty sella turcica in 1 patient,and a missing right olfactory bulb and tract in 1 patient.1 patient had no detectable uterus or accessory organs,while the other patients had primordial uteri.1 patient was diagnosed as a case of severe osteoporosis.1 patient suffered from pituitary stalk interruption syndrome.An artificial menstrual cycle due to hormone replacement therapy was not sustained after discontinuation of hormone therapy.As disease severity and the date of initiating hormone replacement varied,the results of treatment were quite different.For patients of reproductive age,it was rare to see a reversal of idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism after discontinuation of hormone therapy.