BACKGROUND:Inducing factor and chondrogenic microenvironment is a primary factor, which influences chondrogenic differentiation and chondrogenesis of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). OBJECTIVE:To explore the feasibility of in vivo chondrogenesis by co-culture of bone marrow-derived MSCs and chondrocytes. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING:A randomized controlled animal experiment was performed at Department of Pathology, Stomatological Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA between September 2004 and March 2005. MATERIALS:Fifteen New Zealand rabbits of clean grade were used for cell-scaffold construct transplantation. The rabbits were randomly divided into co-culture, chondrocyte, and bone marrow-derived MSC groups, with 5 rabbits in each group. Five neonatal New Zealand rabbits, aged 1-3 days, were used for isolation and culture of bone marrow-derived MSCs and chondrocytes. Polyglycolic acid (PGA) scaffold material (Shanghai Yikuo Company, China) has a fiber diameter of 15 μm, with an average interval of 150-200 μm, an interval porosity of 97% and 2-mm thickness. METHODS:In the co-culture group, bone marrow-derived MSCs and chondrocytes were mixed at a ratio of 3:1. The mixed cells were seeded onto a pre-wetted PGA scaffold (5 mm×5 mm )at the ultimate concentration of 6.0×1010 L-1. Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with fetal bovine serum was dropwise added to peripheral compound for 1 week of culture. In the chondrocyte, and bone marrow-derived MSC groups, chondrocytes and bone marrow-derived MSCs of the same ultimate concentration were seeded respectively onto the PGA scaffold. Then, the cell-scaffold constructs were transplanted into subcutaneous tissue of adult rabbits. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Gross observation and hematoxylin-eosin & Masson staining of neo-cartilage were performed after in vivo culture for 8 weeks. RESULTS:Cell in all groups had a fine adhesion to the scaffold. In both co-culture and chondrocyte groups, the cell-scaffold constructs could maintain the original size and shape during in vivo culture and formed homogenous mature cartilage after 8 weeks of in vivo culture. Furthermore, the neo-cartilages in both groups were similar to each other in gross appearance and histological features. In the bone marrow-derived MSCs group, connective tissue rather than cartilage was found during in vivo culture. CONCLUSION:Chondrocytes can provide a chondrogenic microenvironment to induce a chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived MSCs and thus promote the chondrogenesis of bone marrow-derived MSCs in vivo.

Objective:To investigate the effects of N-acetylcysteine(NAC)on the number of Clara cells and secretion of Clara cell16000(CC16)protein in murine asthmatic model.Methods:The murine asthmatic model was established by sensitiz-ing and challenging BALB/c mice with ovalbumin(OVA).Thirty mice were divided into control,asthmatic and NAC groups (n=10). The number of Clara cells and synthesis of CC16were determined by immunohistochemistry.The CC16level in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)was determined by Western blot.Results:The proportions of Clara cells in terminal and respiratory bronchioles were(58.05?3.75)%and(63.70?1.79)%in the asthmatic group,(74.54?5.81)%and (78.46?1.68)% in the control(P

Objective: To establish the quality standard for Qingchunle Capsules. Methods: Paeoniflorin of Qingchunle Capsules was determined by dual wave length TLC scanning, ? S=230nm, ? R=320nm. Radix salviae Miltiorrhizae, Radix Angelicae Sinennsis and Radix Ginseng Rubra were identified by TLC.Results: The average recovery rate was up to 97.9% and RSD was 3.0%. The TLC sports developed were fairly clear, and the blank test showed no interference. Conclusion: This method is reliable. The results are stable with good reproducibility. This method can be used for quality control of the capsules.

Objective: To establish the quality standard for Qubanjieyan Capsules(Radix Scutellariae, Radix Bupleuri, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, Flos Carthami, etc.) Methods: Baicalin in Qubanjieyan Capsules was determined by HPLC with methol H 2O H 3PO 4(85∶15∶0.2) as the mobile phase, and the detection wavelength was set at 280nm, while Radix Bupleuri, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Paeoniae Rubra and Flos Carthami were identified by TLC. Results: The average recovery rate and RSD were 102.20% and 2.18%, respectively. The TLC spots developed were fairly clear, and the blank test showed no interference. Conclusion: The results are fast and simple with good reproducibility, and the method can be used for quality control of the Qubanjieyan capsules.

BACKGROUND:Currently, there are large numbers of studies related to the association between colagen type I alpha1 (COL1A1) Sp1 polymorphism and bone mineral density and fracture risk, but the results are inconsistent. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the impact of the COL1A1 Sp1 polymorphism on bone mineral density and fracture by using the Meta-analysis. METHODS:We comprehensively searched the eligible studies for the present meta-analysis through MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE databases. Pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of Sp1 polymorphisms for bone mineral density and fracture risk were obtained, with attention to study quality and publication bias. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 32 studies met the inclusion criteria, among which, 22 studies evaluated the Sp1 polymorphism and fracture risk. Significant associations were found in five genetic models. In the stratified analysis by region, the same results were found in the Europeans but not Americans and Asians. Thirteen studies evaluated the Sp1 polymorphism and low bone mineral density risk. A similar result was obtained. However, the analysis of bone mineral density data showed an increased relation between Sp1 polymorphism and low bone mineral density in Europeans and Americans but not in Asians. Overal, the current meta-analysis concludes that the COL1A1 Sp1 polymorphism is associated with low bone mineral density and fracture risk, especialy in Europeans. However, susceptibility to them varies markedly among populations from different regions.

BACKGROUND:Several studies have attempted to apply mouse nerve growth factor to local lesions of peripheral nerve and found that local injection of mouse nerve growth factor can promote nerve recovery, which is superior to systematic application. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the clinical effects of gelatin sponge infiltrated by mouse nerve growth factor in the repair of peripheral nerve injury. METHODS:Thirty-six patients with single peripheral nerve injury, including 16 males and 20 females, aged 18-48 years, were randomly divided into two groups: 18 patients in case group underwent debridement and neuroanastomosis, and then the injured nerve was wrapped by gelatin sponge which was infiltrated by mouse nerve growth factor and folowed by plaster fixation, anti-inflammatory therapy, neurotrophy and circulation improvement therapy; the other 18 patients in control group were treated only with debridement and neuroanastomosis and other conventional therapies. At 4 weeks after treatment, electrophysiological examination was performed. In addition, sensory and motor function of the distal end of injured nerve was evaluated at 6 months after treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Sensory evoked potential and motor evoked potential showed that the recovery rate was 78% (n=14) and 83% (n=15) respectively in the case group, while 57% (n=10) and 66% (n=12) in the control group. There was significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 94.4% (n=17) in the case group and 83.3% (n=15) in the control group, which were statisticaly better in the case group than the control group (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that it is significantly effective to treat peripheral nerve injury by gelatin sponge infiltrated by mouse nerve growth factor that has good biocompatibility.

0.05).Conclusion The local relapse rate and the survival rate within 3 years has no significant difference between patients with lower rectal cancer of Duck stage A after sphincter-preserving surgery and Miles surgery.

To create a comparative referential system for syndrome classification study by viewing from the thinking characteristics of TCM on syndrome differentiation dependent therapy (SDDT), through analyzing the thinking process of SDDT, and the basic features of disease, syndrome and prescription, combining the basic principles of modern evidence-based medicine and feasibility of establishing integrative disease-syndrome animal model. The practice of creating a comparative referential system based on clinical efficacy of prescription was discussed around syndrome pathogenesis and its relationship with disease and prescription, which was one of the important scientific problems in TCM syndrome study. The authors hold that, it may be one of the available approaches for the present study on integration of disease with syndrome by way of insisting on the thinking pathway of stressing the characteristics of TCM and intermerging with modern scientific design; on taking the efficacy of prescription as the comparative reference system to accumulate and improve unceasingly according to the TCM method of syndrome diagnosis inferred from effect of prescription with reverse thought (i.e., to differentiate syndrome from the effect of prescription), and thus build up the syndrome diagnostic standard on the solid clinical and scientific base.
Clinical Medicine ; methods ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; standards

Apoptosis is one of the important forms during cerebral ischemia.Phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/serine/threonine kinase (Akt) is the important cell survival signaling pathway,while c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is the important pro-apoptotic signaling pathway.The dynamic equilibrium of the two signal transduction pathways maintains cell survival and apoptosis under the physiological state.Stimulation during cerebral ischemia breaks this physiological balance and results in the apoptosis of massive neurons.A variety of proved neuroprotective factors are associated with the amplification of enhancement of cell survival signal or inhibition of apoptosis signal,and thrus maintain the balance between the two signal pathways.